Mobile stakeholders to gather for West African version of the most innovative and progressive event on the continent, conference promises to map out the future direction of data usage and services in the region

(LONDON) December 13, 2010 – all amber, a UK based company which is fast establishing itself as the leading organiser of interactive, discussion-based events in Africa, today released official information in relation to the organisation of Mobile Web West Africa, the third of a series of events focusing on harnessing the internet and applications on mobile devices on the continent.

The organisation of Mobile Web West Africa, which is going to be held in Lagos on 2nd & 3rd February 2011, is developing at an extremely fast pace. Already the event has confirmed speakers and supporters from these leading organisations: Google, World Wide Web Foundation, W3C, Storm 360, InMobi, Mobility Nigeria, Fontera and Balancing Act. The level of progress means that the organisers are extremely confident that the event will match the heights of previous events where 81% of attendees have rated them as ‘better’ or ‘much better’ than any other event that they have attended.

all amber Managing Director, Matthew Dawes commented: “Everything is in place for this to be a truly stand-out event. Everyone I have spoken to has been very positive about this event coming to Nigeria, Africa’s biggest mobile market. All the ingredients are there for Mobile Web West Africa to seriously contribute to both the future direction of data usage and services and the expansion of the mobile ecosystem. I have no doubt that this is exactly the right time and place for this event.”

The agenda at the event offers participants a complete range of the vital topic areas – from large global corporate perspectives to creating the next generation of entrepreneurs to utilising mobile for social change to the monetisation of the opportunity that exists. The agenda will be further enhanced by the Interactive Roundtable Table Seating Format, which is unique to all amber events and considerably increases attendees on-the-day and take-away benefits.
Several special measures have been put in place to ensure that there is ecosystem wide representation in the delegation at the event including:
• Despite a limited capacity at the venue, subsidised tickets are available for start-up companies, entrepreneurs, developers, developmental organisations and academics.
• An Open Microphone Session which will allow any attendee to take the podium and deliver 5 minutes of material from any perspective in relation to the development of the sector.
• The West African version of a global mobile application competition – the AppCircus – which allows local mobile developers to demonstrate their latest applications to the delegation

Due to the Interactive Roundtable Seating Format attendance at the event is limited and anyone interested in participating is strongly encouraged to reserve their place now before the show is fully booked. To reserve your space online, please visit: www.mobilewestafrica.com or call +44 (0)1376 521 170.

Contact:
Andrew Mowbray
Communications Director
all amber
+44 (0)1376 521 170
info@allamber.co.uk

About all amber
all amber (www.allamber.co.uk) is a UK based conference company, led by Managing Director Matthew Dawes, which is leading an initiative focusing on the development of the Mobile Web in Africa by organising a series of conferences on the topic. The conferences bring together the leading stakeholders in the African mobile ecosystem, thought leaders from across the globe as well as the future stars of the industry by offering subsidised places to start-ups and developers and. The combination of these three groups of individuals creates a superb atmosphere which enables
learning, facilitates relationship building and allows the sharing of experiences all with the aim that the potential of the mobile internet and mobile applications can be truly harnessed.

All Amber events are innovative and progressive in their nature and utilise the very best venues, with finely tuned agendas and an interactive roundtable format which sets them apart from the traditional rows of seats style. This all contributes to the attendees enjoying a fantastic ‘on-the-day’ experience and significantly improved outputs and networking. To date 81% of attendees at all amber events say they are ‘better’ or ‘much better’ than any other conference they have attended.

The next 12 months of all amber events:
1) Mobile Web West Africa 2011, 2nd & 3rd February 2011, Eko Hotel & Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos, Nigeria. www.mobilewestafrica.com
2) Mobile Web East Africa 2011, 25th & 26th May 2011, Nairobi, Kenya www.mobileeastafrica.com
3) Mobile Web in Africa 2011, 5th & 6th October 2011, Johannesburg, South Africa, www.mobilewebafrica.com

For more information please visit a specific event website, visit www.allamber.co.uk, email: info[at]allamber.co.uk or call +44 1376 521 170.

Having participated in the GSBI myself, I can assure anyone who makes it to the Class of 2011 that you’ll return to your organization a changed person – with motivation, tools and a network money can’t buy!

Santa Clara University’s Ninth Annual Global Social Benefit Incubator Competition Available on Social Edge

SANTA CLARA, Calif. Dec. 7, 2010 — Social entrepreneurs from around the world are invited to apply for the 9th annual Global Social Benefit Incubator (GSBI), a capacity-building program for up to 20 social ventures ready to scale their enterprises with the help of seasoned Silicon Valley start-up veterans and Santa Clara University faculty.

The GSBI, the signature program of Santa Clara University’s Center for Science, Technology and Society, is designed to help leaders of social-benefit enterprises create sustainable and scalable business plans that maximize social impact. The 20 selected entrepreneurs receive four months of on-line mentoring and assignments, culminating in their attendance at a motivating two-week in-residence program Aug. 7 – 19, 2011, at Santa Clara University.
It’s not just the 20 chosen social entrepreneurs who benefit: Applicants who fulfill all of the Social Edge application process requirements receive constructive feedback from Silicon Valley mentors and other experts on their application and business plans.

The Global Social Benefit Incubator application process starts December 7th on Social Edge, the online community for social entrepreneurs and a program of the Skoll Foundation. Information on the online process is available now at www.socialedge.org. Social benefit entrepreneurs from around the world can download the application on December 7th and will be able to submit beginning January 4th, 2011. Up to 20 candidates, who best demonstrate a sustainable and scalable approach to addressing urgent human needs throughout the world, will be chosen to receive a full GSBI scholarship valued at US$25,000.

“Through the access to world-class resources, participating social benefit entrepreneurs will be able to accelerate the impact of their innovations. This is a transformational program for people with the power and vision to change the world,” says Jim Koch, Professor of Management at Santa Clara University, Co-Founder and Director of the Global Social Benefit Incubator (GSBI). “The GSBI brings together grass roots innovators and Silicon Valley executive mentors with university faculty to support the scaling of innovative solutions that serve the common good all over the world.”
The GSBI will continue last year’s emphasis on social entrepreneurs who are using technology and sustainable, scalable business models to provide electricity to the under-served in developing countries. Up to one-third of the GSBI scholarships are being targeted to social entrepreneurs with innovative solutions that address the unmet needs of peoples and communities who are off-the-grid or suffer frequent disruptions in their energy supplies.

“The lack of access to affordable energy limits prospects for livelihoods and stunts the aspirations of future generations by precluding the opportunity to learn and engage in productive pursuits,” says Koch. “Access to reliable energy is the pivotal enabling factor for economic growth in ‘off the grid’ communities around the world.”

All GSBI applicants participate in three Business Planning Exercises. These exercises are designed to help social entrepreneurs write and revise key sections of their business plans based on feedback from mentors at Santa Clara University and others in the Social Edge community. Many social entrepreneurs have commented that they learned a tremendous amount through the application process. “Applicants receive advice on their business proposition, their strategy and their application. This interaction helps them convey their story in a more compelling way and helps them clarify their impact and strategy for scaling their ventures,” says Victor d’Allant, Executive Director of Social Edge.
In the past, GSBI scholars have come from all over the world: Costa Rica, India, Namibia, Mexico, Philippines, Rwanda, Argentina, Cambodia, Paraguay, Ecuador, Bangladesh, Jordan, Guatemala, Laos, Nepal, Bolivia, Nigeria, Kenya, South Africa, Laos, Canada, Haiti, Indonesia, Vanuatu, and the United States. The cross-cultural community of support and personalized mentorship helps social entrepreneurs accelerate progress. The benefits of the program endure well beyond the 8 months of official mentoring, thanks to the network formed from their experiences with fellow attendees and the ongoing support of veteran Silicon Valley start-up mentors.

Starting immediately, social entrepreneurs around the world may visit http://www.socialedge.org/features/gsbi to download their application. There is no application fee. Applicants can prepare their applications now and post them online during January and February 2011.

GSBI scholarships cover tuition, room, and board for the two-week intensive immersion program focused on venture planning, beneficiary analysis, business models, metrics and successful scaling strategies. Selected candidates are responsible for their own travel expenses. The winners will be announced no later than April 1, 2011.

More information can be found at:
Global Social Benefit Incubator at Santa Clara University: http://www.scu.edu/sts/gsbi/
Social Edge, a program of the Skoll Foundation http://www.socialedge.org/features/gsbi

About the Global Social Benefit Incubator
The Global Social Benefit Incubator (GSBI), www.scu.edu/sts/gsbi/, combines 4 months of on-line preparation with an intensive two-week residential program at Santa Clara University that enables successful social benefit entrepreneurs, who have demonstrated their commitment to applying technology to address urgent human needs throughout the world, to scale their endeavors and achieve sustainable, systemic change to impoverished communities. The GSBI combines classroom instruction, case studies, and best practices with carefully matched mentoring on the specific challenges of each participating organization. The signature program of the University’s Center for Science, Technology, and Society, the GSBI embodies Santa Clara University’s vision of creating a more just, humane, and sustainable world in combination with leading executive and entrepreneurial resources of Silicon Valley.

About Social Edge
Headquartered in California’s Silicon Valley, Social Edge, www.socialedge.org, is the global online community where social entrepreneurs and other practitioners of the social benefit sector connect to network, learn, inspire and share resources. It provides expert content for guidance, videos and podcasts for inspiration, and discussions and other resources written by those in the field of social entrepreneurship. Features include blogs by social entrepreneurs sharing how they are building their social ventures and discussions on vital topics led by experts in social entrepreneurship. Social Edge is a program of the Skoll Foundation, www.skollfoundation.org, which was founded in 1999 by eBay’s first president, Jeff Skoll, to advance systemic change to benefit communities around the world by investing in, connecting and celebrating social entrepreneurs.

Contacts
Katie Buck
CSTS
408.554.2132
kbuck[at]scu.edu

Victor d’Allant
Social Edge
650.331.1036
vdallant[at]skollfoundation.org